Cheltenham Festival 2024: Fred previews the “Greatest Show on Turf”

Cheltenham is the biggest week of the year, as the punters and I lock horns in the annual battle.

For us horse racing fans it is the Olympics, World Cup and everything else rolled into four days. It’s quite simply the Greatest Show on Turf.

Ever since I opened my first shop in Salford in 1967, it’s always been the best and busiest week. Some of my favourite horses like Persian War, Dawn Run, Desert Orchid, and Istabraq have all cost me a fortune over the years.

More recently, I still have scars from when Bob’s Worth won the Gold Cup. I was the sponsor of the race and went top-price all day and ended up paying out nearly £5m. It’s still known as ‘Black Friday’ in my office, but we paid out everyone with a smile.

Looking down the markets this year, it is littered with the name Willie Mullins next to those runners towards the head of affairs - and on the odd occasion it isn’t his name, it’s Gordon Elliott or Henry De Bromhead. We are looking at more Irish domination.

It is a big shame that our flag bearer, Constitution Hill, was ruled out last week as many, including me, would have loved to see him strut his stuff once again on the biggest stage.

However, 28 races are there to be won and it all kicks off at 13:30 on Tuesday, when the most famous of roars rings around the Cotswolds to announce the start of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Ireland looks particularly strong in that contest and it looks likely the day's feature, the Champion Hurdle, will be going home on a ferry too.

The loss of Constitution Hill means this looks a penalty kick for State Man, who seems clear of the rest, while Willie Mullins will most likely add the Mares' Hurdle too courtesy of Lossiemouth. They are both odds-on favourites that I will be taking on.

Wednesday once again will provide plenty of short-priced favourites with Mullins’ Fact To File and El Fabiolo both likely to be the shorter side of EVS.

Ballyburn in the opener may be a different matter, and I expect he will be many people’s banker of the four days.

Thursday looks a lot more competitive for those punters who like a price, and it could be good day for the Mr J P McManus, who deserves a lot of recognition and success for the money he puts into the sport.

I think he could be celebrating courtesy of Iroko and Icare Allen in the first two races, while the Stayers' Hurdle is the most wide-open feature of the week.

As for the Gold Cup, it isn’t easy to win it twice. Only eight horses have done it previously, so I’ll probably be taking on the favourite Galopin Des Champs come Friday. That is a long way away though!

Join me for these fantastic four days as I promise to give every one of my punters outstanding value for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

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